In a short time after the death of M»' Urquliart the Churchwardens & vestry (tho new ones yet all independents) in tlie same manner called one M^ George Macnish a Dissenting Itinerant preacher who being as much if not more uijquahfied to accept or officiate than M'' Hubbard the present Governor M' Hunter ordered M"" Poyer to be inducted into the said Church and its appurtenances which was accordingly done by the Rev^ M'^ Sharp Chaplain of the forces here on the 18 July 1710.

Yet notwitlistanding the said last recited Act of General Assembly that enacted that tlie maintenance should be paid to the Incumbent that should be inducted k estal^lished the Churchwardens refuse to pay Mi" Poyer who is qualified according to the Act any maintenance pursuant to the same (for tho' M"^ Poyer has duly officiated tliere for about the space ol One year and a half and after a very tedious & expensive voyage with his family in a Merchant ship and being cast ashore with

PATERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY. 231

tlie sMp above one hundred miles from his parish has not received one penny of his Salary there since his arrival but on the contrary they paid XlG certain (and we believe more that we know not of) of the money raised by the said' Act to the said M"" McNish.

This is the unliappy state of the Church of Jamaica in the Colony of New York and since it plainly appears that the claim of the independents is nothing but their rates towards the building of the Church and are more in number & now also in power (the magistracy Churchwardens & vestrymen being all of that persuasion) we say, since we have no other >claim nor ever had any possession according to the Estabhshments made by the Acts of Assembly it is also submitted to your Lordship k to other impartial unprejudiced and judicious persons to judge of a right to a Church thus built and thus establishetl as before at large set forth.